Raccoon Abilities

[enggass]

Can raccoons get through or break through 2"x4" welded fencing? I know that it is advised to have smaller such as 1/2" Hardware cloth on the lower tier because coons can reach through and grab, but I am wondering about there ability to climb and then break through 2"x4" fencing higher up. I am going to be leaving for 3 days and my birds need access to their 6'x9' run for food and water. It is locked down tight with 1/2" cloth and 2"x4" cloth higher up. Roof paneling on top. All eaves covered...

My other younger birds are in a larger new coop with food and water and will stay in there for the 3 days. Their run is not secure.

What can a coon do?

 

[lilhens]

They will most defiantly reach through it and pull your chicken through it. Not safe.

 

[colebarnhart]

No, they are very strong, but not strong enough to break thru livestock fencing. But not sure if that is the same thing that your talking about, without pics. However, as above poster stated, they can for sure reach thru. If your chickens are trained to go into the coop at night by themselves then that solves a lot of the problem. But if the younger birds stay out in the run and sleep they might roost in a safe unreachable spot, but they may get close to the fence and get grabbed also.

 

[darkmatter]

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Haven't had a lot of coon problems but possums have torn welded wire apart here. I don't think modern welded wire is as strong as when I was a kid.
A possum tore a havahart apart to escape. Incredible strength and I believe coons are at least as strong.

 

[enggass]

They do go in the coop at night. Mature birds... BUT, they also will come out fairly early in the AM. Possibly before raccoon bedtime 4-5ish am... That is the time I am worried about.
Where the birds are in the run they are completely surrounded by 1/2" hardware cloth. The 2"x4" fencing I got at Lowes: http://www.lowes.com:80/pd_92258-307-70948_0__?productId=1112433&Ntt=welded+fencing&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dwelded%2Bfencing&facetInfo=
14gauge Welded Wire - I have that everywhere from 3' up to the roof.

 

[colebarnhart]

Quote:
I think it sounds pretty good and secure and they should be safe.

{quote} "Haven't had a lot of coon problems but possums have torn welded wire apart here. I don't think modern welded wire is as strong as when I was a kid. A possum tore a havahart apart to escape. Incredible strength and I believe coons are at least as strong."

Raccoons are way stronger that possiums. But as someone once posted on here a predator looking for a meal will only put forth so much effort, however, a caged animal will work way harder to escape and save it's own life.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

They way I gauge my wire strength is if I can pop the welds, they probably can too. I'm 5'7" about 130lbs, so I may be giving them a little too much credit, but they are some strong little critters. I think if they can get their little hands inside, there's a chance they can rip the wire. I'm a worry wart though. See if you can stretch or rip a piece with your own hands, and judge from there. Good luck!

 

[enggass]

Quote:
Thanks. That is what I was thinking I would do. If I can't rip it apart, I doubt they can...

 

[colebarnhart]

Just looked at your coop/run on your BYC page and I think it looks great and see the hardware cloth vs welded wire. A raccoon could get up on the roof and reach thru possibly, but who knows, I think it looks very safe, but just when you think that and let your gaurd down, Whammo!!! Rats climb up the hardware cloth and thru the welded wire and chew the faces off your birds as they sleep.